Corn-husker pin



L. F. SCHRAGE.

CORN HUSKER PIN.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22. 1919.

1,340,419. Patented May 18, 1920.

WITNESSES INVENTOR.

(w SQ/32 a 8 LOUIS F. SCHRAGE, OF PALATINE, ILLINOIS.

CORN-HUSKER PIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1920.

Application filed January 22, 1919. Serial No. 272,505.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS F. SCHRAGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Palatine, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Husker Pins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a corn husker pin and has for its primary object the production of a device which may be easily carried by the hand of the operator in position to easily grip a husk of an ear of corn and remove the same.

Another object of this invention is the production of a corn husker pin wherein resilient means are employed for normally forcing the sections of the device apart, thus relieving such strain from the hand of the operator and also necessitating only a minimum retaining means for holding the structure on the hand of the user.

Another object of this invention is the production of a corn husker pin wherein two sections are hingedly connected together, although the ends of the sections are normally urged apart by coil springs, and the ends of the sections are provided with spurs which engage the husk of an car when the sections are moved to a closed position for assisting in quickly removing such husks.

One practical form of construction and assembly of the present invention will be hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a detail perspective view of the corn husker pin showing the same carried upon the hand of the user and in condition for use.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention about to be described, 5 indicates the primary section of the device and 6 the auxiliary section thereof, these sections being provided with sleeves 7 through which a pin 8 passes for connecting the two sections together. The coiled springs 9 are also mounted upon the pin 8 and have their projecting ends bearing upon the surfaces of the sections 5 and 6 as illustrated in Fig. 1 thus urging the sections to open position. It is to be noted that the sections 5 and 6 are curved throughout their entire length as in dicated in Fig. 2, thus conforming in contour to the shape of the users hand when the hand is partly closed to firmly hold an article placed therein, and that the major portion of the lengths of the sections are curved to present a maximum angle in all relative positions of the sections, and the free ends of the sections are curved acutely toward each other. Due to this construction, the free ends of the sections will move directly inwardly of the ear of corn to pierce the husk at opposite sides thereof.

A retaining strap 11 has its ends fixed as indicated at 12, upon the primary section 5 and this strap is looped about to permit the user to easily slip his hand therethrough when it is desired to secure the device in an operative position. Since the structure is provided with the coil springs as above pointed out, it will be normally urged to an open position, thus relieving such strain from the hand of the operator and as the primary section is connected to the operators hand by the retaining strap above referred to it is obvious that no other retaining elements are necessary since the resiliency of these springs will cause the two sections to bear firmly upon the users hand. The sections 5 and 6 are bent at their ends to converge toward each other when the device is in an open position as indicated in Fig. 2. The primary section 5 has spurs 13 formed on its end it being noted that the spurs 13 are positioned at the side edges of the section and for this reason are spaced apart. The auxiliary section 6 also has a pair of spurs 14 projecting therebeyond from its central portion. When the sections are moved toward a closed position, the spurs 14 will move in between the spurs 13 thus firmly gripping the corn husk for removing the same from the car at the operators will.

As soon as such action has been completed the operator may open his hand, while the resiliency of the springs will again return the sections to open position for the next operation.

A knife 15 is pivotally mounted at its inner end as indicated at 16 on the primary section 5. When it is not desired to use the knife, it may be left in a closed position as indicated in full lines in Fig. 1 at which time it will rest upon the surface of the Eli primary section. When the operator desires to use the knife it may be swung outwardly to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 which will cause the end of the knife to project beyond the hand of the user and thus cause the knife to be in convenient position for use.

It will thus be seen that a very simple corn husker pin has been provided which consists of a minimum number of parts and for this reason may be very cheaply manufactured and owing to its simplicity will be easily carried upon the hand of the user without tiring the hand. Furthermore, the position of the springs causes the sections to automatically open, thus reducing the necessary retaining means while the sections eon- :lorm to the contour of the hand. Furthermore, the position of the spurs in converging relation allow the same to very easily and firmly grip the husk of an ear when the device is in operation.

The foregoing description and aec0mpanying drawings have reference to what might be considered to be the preferred or approved form of my invention. I desire it to be understood that I may make such changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera as may prove excellent and fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a device of the character described, the combination of a primary section and an auxiliary section pivotally connected together at their inner edges, spring means for normally urging said sections to an open position, each section consisting of a plate arcuated inwardly throughout the major portion of its length to present an angle in all relative positions of the sections, the free ends of said sections being bent inwardly toward each other, the free end of said primary section being formed to provide a pair of spaced spurs adjacent the side edges thereof, the free end of said auxiliary section having a pair of spurs formed thereon adj aeent its center portion and adapted to lit between the spurs of the primary section when the sections are closed, the length and breadth of said sections allowing the user to use his forefinger and thumb when the device is used without ii'iterference therefrom, and aretaining strap secured to the primary section for embracing the back of the users hand.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

. LOUIS F. SCHRAGE.

Witnesses HERMAN F. SOHRAGE, FRED SCHRAGE. 

